Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-04-08

celebrate no sech day, as | amt no singer,
an ] amt got no flowers. Let them cele-
brate il as willard Jack lounged off 10
the nearest har-rOon.
After he went out, Molly sat thinking for
long time. The sun went down behind
the mountains, and Mrs Mallory came and
lit the little lamp ON the table. At last
Molly took her scissors from her little work
box and pushed her chair over to the rough
shelf of flowers. With trembling hands
she cut her treasures with the sharp scis
surs, and arranged them in little punches
on the rough board The tears fell upon
her work, as the thin fingers bound the
bouquets while Mrs. Mallory, watching her
from the other room without the heart to
stop her, wiped her eyes on her apron.
The next morning when the boarders
came into breakfast, a wonderful sight met
their eyes. Mrs. Mallory stood waiting for
them, very brave, in an immense red rib
bon, and bunch Of flowers fastened to the
front Of her ample apron. By the side Of
each tin plate lay dainty bouquet. In the
little sittng-rOom, Moly's chair was turned
with its back toward them, but on the shelf
by the window stood only few short green
stumps peering from the unsghtly cans
Molly had given her friends an Easter Of
fering.
Inc bphIutTh SUOMI III AWKWARD SuIlIlSe
The Engishman was the first to recover
himself He took the little bunch of flow
ers and reverently pinned it to the front of
his flannel blouse. His example was fol-
lowed by the Others With foolish, bunder
ing fingers the rough miners fastened the
little token to their coats.
The meal was eaten in silence After it
was finished the men filed silently out of the
room and gathered in crowd Just outside
the door.
Jack Brady was spokesman. He mount
ed a stump and began
Boys, we hev laid out for big tins to
! lay ] moves we postpone it. This little
/ gal is Jest dyin' up here, an the only way
ter save her is to send her below She
! gives up her posies for us, an | moves that
we all puts in days work for her, and
raises money enough to send her out of this.
! I've got deep claim, an I'll agree ter give
all we kin git out ter day
The proposal met with great favor, and
each man started for his tools They had
arranged for great spree, but that could
| be postponed. The idea of an Easter offer
ing struck them as original and appropri-
ate. Nothing but the near presence of
Molly prevented them from giving three
cheers. Each one started to work with the
little bouquet still pinned To his coat
!
| ing away the dishes Not "a word had been
said by the miners, and she began to fear
that Molly had thrown away her flowers.
| She was SO busy with the dishes that she
did not notice IA mans face peering in at
| her through the window. When she look
ed up, at last, it had gone
Along over the logs and stumps at the
back Of the house, crouching figure stole
| like "a wild beast. The figure of man
covered with dust and blood, with no hat,
and his clothes slashed and torn by branches
and briars. A figure that crouched like
hunted animal, and rolled its blood shot
eyes like beast at bay Slowly and care
fully the figure crept to the door and push
ell slowly against it. 1t turned noiselessly
upon its hinges, and the man passed in.
Mrs. Mallory stood with her back to the
door, and did not notice him till he whis-
pered hoarsely. "Widder " She turned
with stiied scream for haggard and
weary and savage stood Jack Devon, the
murderer.
He stood before her with his wild eyes
rowing about, feebly mumbling, Some
thing to eat-give me something TO eat
Mrs. Mallory hesitated The man before
her was a murderer, with every mans hand
against him. This man had eaten at her
own table when her husband died this
IMAM was VIC III ~ W lllOpbst lilc hll5
plan. The poor creature looked so wretch
ed, so faint, so utterly helpless, that she
| could not refuse him, but motiOned him to
| sit at the table
He sat OH the rough bench and began to
eat like a ravenous beast, stopping every
little while to listen.
Under the influence of the food, aud the
warmth of the room, his face assumed
more human appearance, and he arose with
something Of smile TO thank Mrs Mallory
for her kindness.
His eyes fell upon tine little bunch of flow
ers lying 10y his plate. He raised them in
his great fingers with questioning look at
Mrs. Mallory Almost unconsciously, she
placed her hand upon her own bouquet. He
had been hunted and bayed so long that his
mind was affected, for in imitation of her
gesture he raised the flowers and fastened
them in hole of his ragged coat Then, at
some sudden noise on the outside, he crept
out at the door, and plunged into the for
est.
Ten minutes later the sheriff rode into
town ut the head of dozen men. They
left their horses at the Silver Plume house,
and scattered over the mountain in pursuit
Of the outlaw.
Meanwhile Jack Brady and his friends
We're having grand luck Ii seemed as if
they had struck out an entirely new vein.
Basket after basket of ore came up the
shaft, and still the men worked on.
1t was late in the afternoon. The sun
hung lovingly on the summit of the highest
peak, smiling at the good work below. The
first shadows had begun to form in the can
ons and under the pine trees, when Jack
shouted down the shaft, 'One more basket,
boys, and Wen quit He stood at the mouth
of the shaft to catch the basket. The sher
IFS party, unsuccessful in their hunt, came
down the trail, and waited to see the last
load come up.
All at once one of the supporters of the
mouth of the shaft snapped, and little
shower of dirt gave notice of general cave.
Jack started back with a shout to the men
below They sprang with all haste for the
ladder for if the upper beam should give
way, nothing could save them they would
be buried alive. Jack stood irresolute !;
but from pile of boulders near the shaft
a man darted to the opening and placed
his back against the falling beam. His face
was turned to the crowd. 1t was Jack De-
! Won, the murderer.
With widespread feet braced against the
lower bar, he held his back against the
beam, though inch by inch it sank upon
him, and the crowd could see his face turn
white with agony.
Between his feet the miners came crawl
ing one by one. Slowly they crawled out
of the darkness, away from the fearful pit
of death, into the sunshine-into life. The
crowd counted them as they came. The
E last man reached the opening, but just as
he sprang to his feet the beam broke, and
I down with "a crash fell the earth upon the
D man who had held the way open so nobly.
t The timbers and earth were quickly
thrown away, and the body of the dead
+ murderer pulled into light. All the memo
a ry of his crime had been driven from the
a hearts of the miners by this one grand act.
e The men who hunted him but an hour be-
b fore, now came and looked with pity upon
him, for zone touch Of nature makes the
$ whole world kim"
e With gentle hands, the rough miners
f turned his face to the light. On the breast
of his ragged coat, still chung faded and
o torn geranium leaf-Molly's Easter offering.
e The little token had not been in vain.
f Molly had not thrown her flowers away
. He too, had given his Easter offering
c He had given his life Who shall say that
it was not acceptable in the eyes of Hin
j. who said "Greater love hath no man than
this-that he lay down his life for hi
;. friend. h-DetrOh Ereaing NeiOs.
e Charles KingsIey's Raster Hymn.
See the land, her Easter keeping,
Rises as her Maker rose,
, Seeds, so long in darkness sleeping,